Macrovirus (fiction)
A macrovirus is a fictional construct to describe a virus that is larger than usual, e.g. beyond the need of a microscope for the human eye to see it. As with real life viruses, they need other creatures to survive through a parasitic or carnivorous relationship.
Examples include:
- The Ripley, a parasitoid macro-virus from the film Dreamcatcher and the novel by the same name by Stephen King
- The un-named macro parasitoid virus featured in an episode of Star Trek: Voyager titled "Macrocosm", which had a lifecycle of starting as a virus creating bubonic plague-like boils on the skin, to a series of fly-like creatures which escaped from the boils, to a large-to-medium sized flying clawed creature with large circular serrated mouth and infecting proboscis. Victims hover near death from the effects of the virus with weak vital signs but the fly forms of the virus/parasite remain dormant in their bodies until another creature comes nearby.
- The Khaara from the Half-Life mod Natural Selection. Though predominantly an airborne virus, is able to manifest itself into various forms and structures.
- The Flood in the Halo franchise reproduce virally, and also create zombie-like hosts.
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